asked the Minister for Justice if he will state for what reason Alexander Maximoe (deceased) was taken into custody by the Gardaí; in what circumstances he met his death while in custody; and what quantity of currency was found in his effects, and how it has been disposed of.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Circumstances of Arrest.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he has had brought to his attention a statement, on behalf of the Swiss Legation, that Alexander Maximoe (deceased) was not a Swiss national; and if so, if he will state what passport he carried entering this country, when he entered, and whether, while here, he complied with the regulations provided in respect of aliens sojourning in Ireland.
I propose to take questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. Alexander Maximoe arrived in this country on the 3rd of September bearing a British passport in the name of Horace Henry Smith. It was subsequently discovered that he had obtained the British passport by false pretences, that he had previously held a Swedish passport and that there was a warrant for his arrest in Great Britain on a charge under the Companies Acts. He was arrested for landing in contravention of the Aliens Order, 1946, and an Order for his deportation was issued. He was placed on board the mailboat on the 2nd of October, but he disappeared from the boat before it arrived at Holyhead. A passenger reported that he had seen a man going overboard at a point about 15 miles from Holyhead. It is believed that this was Maximoe and that he was drowned. Maximoe was not in custody at the time of his disappearance. He ceased to be in custody when the mailboat left the area of jurisdiction of the State.
When Maximoe was arrested he was in possession of £55 19s. 7½d. in Irish and British currency, one 100 dollar note and one 1,000 franc note. He was allowed to retain this money. No currency was found in the luggage which he left on the mailboat.
Is it true that this deceased man in fact travelled with two aliases, that his name was Maximoe, that he was otherwise known as Maxwell, and that he was otherwise known as Mr. Schmidt, or Smith; and can the Minister say how this man became involved in the transactions associated with the sale of the Kilbeggan distillery; how it appeared in the fashionable intelligence that he and a Mr. Eindignerre had been entertained in Arus an Uachtaráin; and if he can inform the House as to whether reasonable precautions are taken by the authorities to ensure that international crooks will not impose themselves upon the President's household as respectable and respected citizens?
Mr. Boland
As far as this man is concerned I only know of two names that he used, Horace Henry Smith and Maximoe. He came in here with a British passport and when people have a British passport they are not subjected to the same scrutiny as those who have passports of some other country. It was not for some time afterwards that the police were actually looking for this man, Maximoe. They had a photograph and they discovered that Smith and Maximoe were the same. I do not know what associations he had with this other man. I do not know about that.
Is the Minister aware of the circumstances in which this man, Maximoe, was ultimately apprehended? On whose premises was he taken? And has the Minister any reason to believe that for 24 hours before the police succeeded in locating him he was being sheltered by a person in this country who knew that the police were looking for him and that he was ultimately apprehended in that person's company? Can the Minister give us any information on that subject and, if he can, will he say to us why did that person retain him and are the police satisfied that the circumstances in which that person retained him, well knowing the police were looking for him, call for no further inquiries?
Is the Minister aware that this individual, accompanied by a member of the Oireachtas, took part in the buying of Locke's Distillery with another individual?
That is a separate question.
Mr. Boland
There is an attempt being made to drag in a member of the Oireachtas. All I can say is that whatever that member of the Oirechtas had to do with this business, I can assure the House that he comes out with a perfectly clear sheet. So, whatever insinuations are being thrown around now, I can assure everybody that that is the position. If we had known that this man was what Deputy Dillon suggests, then he would have been put out. In fact, he was put out as soon as we laid hands on him. I am not quite sure where he was arrested. I think it was at the office of Aer Lingus.
Not likely.
Mr. Boland
Anyway, all I can say is that once we found that he was an undesirable alien he was put out.
Question No. 21.
There is a very serious scandal here and I submit that we ought to be allowed to ask the Minister about it.
Question No. 21, Deputy Flanagan.
I respectfully submit that we ought to be allowed to ask the Minister these questions.
Can the Minister say if it is a fact that this Undesirable character was in the company of Senafor Quirke and Mrs. Sweeney, who is a niece of the President, who arranged for the tea at Arus an Uachtaráin?
That is not the question Deputy Flanagan asked.
Mr. Boland
I hope this House is not going to be used to besmirch Senator Quirke's character without somebody being given an opportunity of defending him. He was undoubtedly the person who carried through the transaction, as a member of a firm of auctioneers.
And therefore it is carried through.
Mr. Boland
I do not know how that stands but it was in the paper. Everybody saw that. But I want to assure everybody that it can bear the closest investigation. Anything that Senator Quirke had to do with that was open and above board. As an attempt has been made to throw mud, I want everyone to realise that.